How To Shop for Car Insurance in 2023
Learn how to shop for auto insurance by obtaining relevant data, deciding whether to work with an agent or not, and contrasting various providers.
Getting the data you need to receive a quotation is the first step. The same things are often requested by insurance firms, including your:
Identifying details: Name, date of birth, address, and length of stay at that address
Vehicle information Vehicle identification number (VIN), make, model, year, mileage, and safety attributes of your vehicle
Driving background: Your driving history for the last three to five years, including any infractions and incidents that you were at fault for
Information about current insurance: The insurer you now work with, any available coverage levels, and the policyholders’ birthdates
Additional details: Your license numbers as well as the names of any other household members not covered by your policy
It’s possible that you’ll need to personally locate your car’s VIN or get some of this data from other sources. It might be much simpler to shop for auto insurance if you do this in advance.
Determine the kind and quantity of coverage you want. Each state mandates a minimal level of property damage and bodily injury liability insurance that pays out to other drivers when you cause an accident.
You won’t be able to obtain less coverage than that in the majority of states, but you may raise the liability coverage amounts (which we recommend). The following is a brief overview of the many coverage options you could have available to you:
When you cause an accident, liability insurance pays for the medical expenses and repair costs of other drivers.
Regardless of who was at blame for the collision, collision insurance will pay for damages to your automobile.
Comprehensive insurance protects against theft, vandalism, and environmental damage.
When an accident is caused by a driver who does not have enough insurance, underinsured/uninsured motorist coverage will pay for your injuries and property damage.
Your medical expenses following an accident are covered by medical payments coverage (MedPay).
PIP insurance (personal injury protection): Pays for your medical expenses, lost earnings, and death benefits. In no-fault states, this coverage is frequently mandated.
Think about lender requirements
Your lender will demand that you maintain full-coverage insurance on the vehicle if you have an auto loan. In reality, the lender will be listed as a lienholder on your auto insurance policy so that they are reimbursed in the event of a total loss.
Liability coverage as well as comprehensive and collision coverage are all included in full-coverage insurance. If you wish to update your insurance coverage, check your loan documents or get in touch with your lender to find out what insurance is necessary. Otherwise, maintain everything the same as it is in your present policy and provide your new insurer with the name and location of the lender.
Insurance Gap
If you owe more money than your automobile is worth, gap insurance can also be a good idea. In the case of a total loss, gap insurance compensates the difference between the value of your automobile and the amount you still owe on the loan.
Speak to an Agent of an Insurance Company
Getting a quotation from an insurance agent at a firm is one of the easiest methods to shop for auto insurance. These reps, often known as captive agents, exclusively work for a single business, such as Geico or Allstate. Although they won’t do it for you, they will be knowledgeable about the coverage possibilities offered by their employer.
Make use of an independent insurance agent or broker.
Both independent agents and brokers have relationships with several insurance providers, which enables them to assist you with comparison shopping. A local insurance company could provide coverage from State Farm,
Geico, and Progressive in addition to a few local choices. However, brokers and independent agents have an incentive to sell you more since they earn more money if you purchase more coverage.
Utilize a tool for online comparison
Obtaining rates from many businesses at once is simple and quick when using an online quote comparison tool. Similar to using a company’s website, an agent may be needed in unique circumstances like ridesharing insurance or historic automobile insurance.
When filling out an auto insurance quotation, always be truthful. When anything crucial, such as particular information about your driving history, is found to have been omitted from the quotation, car insurance providers have the right to modify your premium or even cancel your policy.
Car Insurance Quote Comparison
The next step is to compare your vehicle insurance quotes once you’ve chosen how you want to obtain one. You’ll find the best prices this way whether you use a broker, a comparison tool, or a few different company websites. Additionally, you can check which businesses give the biggest discounts based on your circumstances.
Discover the Best Discounts for Auto Insurance
The majority of auto insurance providers provide a range of discounts that might enable you to save money. Because various businesses provide different discounts, comparison buying is crucial. For instance, Geico gives an excellent student discount of up to 15% while State Farm offers a discount of up to 25%. Some businesses don’t at all provide decent student discounts.
Examine the Companies That Provide Usage-Based Insurance
Additionally, some businesses provide telematics insurance plans that give discounts to safe drivers. These systems measure your average speed, mileage, acceleration, turning, braking, and late-night driving using an app, a plug-in device, or both.
You may also acquire pay-per-mile insurance from a few businesses if you don’t drive often. A pay-per-mile program often includes a basic monthly or daily payment along with a fee for each mile you drive. If you commute by car less frequently or work from home, you may save a lot of money. Pay-per-mile programs include, for instance:
Obtain a Policy
The purchase of your coverage is the last action in the auto insurance buying process. As long as you sign up and pay the enrollment fee, many auto insurance providers offer same-day coverage. Alternatively, you might decide to pay for the insurance in full up front.
Prevent a Gap in Coverage
When changing auto insurance providers, give yourself at least a full day’s overlap between your old and new policy. In other words, wait until the new coverage begins before terminating your current one.
This can be accomplished by planning the cancellation beforehand. Even a single day of coverage gap might make you riskier to auto insurance providers and raise your insurance rates.
Cost of Full Coverage Car Insurance on Average
Our rate averages show that drivers under 35 with clean driving records pay $1,730 year, or $144 monthly, on average for full-coverage auto insurance. Following are rankings of the top 10 vehicle insurance providers based on average yearly premiums.
Average Cost of Minimum-Coverage Auto Insurance
The lowest choice for auto insurance is minimum coverage. Our statistics show that safe drivers spend roughly $635 year, or $53 per month, on minimal liability insurance.
How to Reduce Auto Insurance Costs
The cost of car insurance depends on a number of variables, but there are several things you can do to get lower prices. When searching for auto insurance, take into account the following:
Avoid harsh credit checks: In most jurisdictions, vehicle insurance companies are allowed to utilize credit scores when calculating premiums. Avoid anything that might lower your score if at all feasible.
Increase your deductible: By increasing your deductible, you can reduce the cost of your auto insurance. But if you were to have an accident, make sure you can afford to pay.
Reduce your coverage limits: You can save money on auto insurance if you can get by with less coverage. If you own your automobile outright, you could also be able to obtain basic coverage.
Combining policies can save you money. For example, you can save money by combining your auto insurance with your homes or renters insurance.
Comparing various suppliers One company’s prices might be hundreds less than another’s. Until you compare more than one company, you won’t know you have the cheapest auto insurance.
Shop frequently: Every time your policy is due for renewal, compare auto insurance rates to be sure you have the best choice.
How to Compare Auto Insurance: Summary
There are several methods to shop for auto insurance, but comparing several providers at once is the most effective strategy. To find the best choice for you, gather your information, select what kinds of coverage you want, pick how you want to obtain a price, and then compare car insurance rates.
Recommended Auto Insurance Companies
There may be dozens of auto insurance providers at your disposal, but not all of them provide the greatest pricing, coverage, or services. Our top recommendations for outstanding low-cost vehicle insurance include State Farm and Geico.
State Farm
Our top pick is State Farm due to its reasonable average prices, good variety of discounts, and wide range of coverage options. The firm offers a variety of alternatives for students and safe drivers to earn lower rates, and its average prices are around 15% less than the national average. Additionally, AM Best has rated State Farm’s financial health as A++.
Geico wins a position among our top options due to its typical premiums being around 24% less expensive than the national average. A 22% good driver discount, a 15% military discount, and a 25% multi-vehicle discount are notable reductions.